Method for loading a ski-lift



Dec. 3,1963 c. VAN EVERA 3,112,710

METHOD FOR LOADING A SKI-LIFT Filed Aug. 4, 1960 2 Sheetg-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

I CHARLES V fvspA U "wflm ATTORNEY Dec. 3, 1963 c. VAN EVERA I METHOD FOR LOADING A SKI-LIFT Filed Au 4, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. l/412155 VAN EVE A BY 6 ATIWRNE'Y United States Patent 3,112,71il METHOD FOR LOADENG A SEE-LEFT Charles Van Evera, 193 Tapia Drive, San Francisco, Qaiif. Filed Aug. 4, 1%0, Ser. No. 47,4d7 4 Claims. (61. 104173) This invention relates to a method of loading a T-bar ski lift. More particularly, this invention relates to a method for increasing the number of passengers on a T-bar ski lift without reducing the length of time each passenger is allotted for preparation to board the lift.

T-bar ski lifts have become commonplace on ski slopes throughout the World. Such a lift comprises a constantly moving, endless cable strung between two large-diameter pulleys, one at the top of the slope and the other at the bottom, and supported about 12 to feet above the snowline by intermediate towers. Suspended from the cable at regular intervals are devices called T-bars which are used to support the skiers as they are transported up the slope. Each of these T-bars comprises a rigid seat, shaped much like an inverted T, which is connected at its upper end directly to the cable, or indirectly through an extensible member, such as a telescoping tube or a flexible line coiled around a reel.

Skiers, usually in pairs but sometimes singly, board this lift at a loading station positioned directly in line with, and beneath, the ascending section of the cable, generally just ahead of the lower pulley. Boarding is accomplished with the help of an attendant who grasps the oncoming T-bar and hands it to, for instance, a waiting pair of skiers standing side-by-side directly under the cable at the loading station. The skiers place the cross member of the T behind them, sit back against it, and move forward with the T-bar up the slope. Where only one skier is boarding the lift, he does so in the same manner and from the same position beneath the cable.

One of the problems in operating this type of ski lift is that a time interval is required for skiers to maneuver from the waiting line into the loading station and prepare themselves for boarding the lift. Some states, ineluding California, Michigan and New Hampshire, have laws regulating the minimum amount of time which must be allotted to each skier or pair of skiers for this procedure; in general, at least 3 to 8 seconds is allowed for each T-bar. This time period cannot be shortened without endangering the safety of the skiers, since the loading station is directly in line with the advancing T- bar and dodging the T-bar at the loading station is quite difficult. This situation clearly limits the speed of the cable and the distance between T-bars, and therefore the number of skiers which can be transported on the lift per unit of time.

At most ski slopes the large majority of business is on the weekends. During those two days the skiers flock to the slopes in such numbers that long lines form at the loading stations. Often these lines are so long that a half an hour or more elapses from the time the skier gets in line until he is on the lift. This is very detrimental to the sport, since all the time spent in line is skiing time lost. The reputation of many ski areas have suffered adversely because of this problem.

Although one solution is to build more ski lifts, this is quite costly, for T-bar lifts range up to $40,000 to construct, depending on their size and the type of terrain on which they are built. This fact, combined with the problem of relatively little use during the week days, makes it financially unsound to construct lifts sufficient to accommodate all of the skiers on the busiest weekend, without lines forming.

An important object of my invention is to provide a method of increasing the capacity of a T-bar ski lift withice out diminishing the loading preparation time accorded to each skier.

Another object of my invention is a method of loading a T-bar ski lift which greatly reduces or eliminates the time spent waiting in line to use the lift.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an economical manner for increasing the lift facilities at ski areas served by T-oar, or the like, ski lifts.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing two adjoining loading stations, instead of one, at each loading point on the lift, and loading the lift from these stations in alternate fashion. These loading stations are situated side-by-side, one just to one side of the ascending cable and the other just to the other side, so that if both stations were occupied simultaneously by pairs of skiers, the skiers would form a forward facing straight line, four abreast, with the ascending cable running between the second and the third skier. Each loading station is supplied by skiers from its own individual line. To accommodate the increase in loading stations, the number of T-bars on the lift can be doubled. This does not sacrifice individual loading preparation time, since each loading station is served only by every other T-bar, and therefore the skiers at each of the two loading stations have the same interval of time for preparation as on a conventional lift with half as many T-bars which are all loaded from only the one station. Thus, theoretically, twice as many skiers can be carried on a lift as before during the same time interval.

In order to clearly illustrate my invention, the following detailed description is set forth in reference to the diagrammatic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a View in perspective of a complete T-bar ski lift, showing the dual loading stations of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the dual loading stations as they look when both are occupied with a pair of skiers;

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective, on an enlarged scale of the dual loading stations showing skiers loading at one station; and

FIG. 4 is another view in perspective, on an enlarged scale, of the dual loading stations of FIG. 3 showing skiers loading at the other station.

As illustrated in the drawings, using a T-bar ski lift 19 comprising an endless, constantly moving cable 11 and a plurality of T-bars 12, 13, 14, 15, etc., my method involves establishing two loading stations A and B, one on either side of the ascending portion 16 of the cable 11 such that when there is a pair of skiers 17 at station A and simultaneously a pair 18 at station B (FIG. 2), these four skiers are in a line, side-by-side, and are all facing in the direction in which the ascending cable 16 is moving. Skiers waiting to board the lift are formed into two lines 19 and 20 which extend back from the loading stations A and B, respectively. A lift attendant 21 stands generally beneath the ascending cable 16 behind the two loading stations A, B, and waits for the empty T-bars to come to him.

When the first T-bar 12 reaches the attendant 21 he grasps it, moves it laterally a bit out of line with the cable 16 until it is in line with the loading station A, and hands it to the pair of skiers 17 waiting at this loading station. These skiers 17 position themselves on the T-bar and, as the tension exerted on this T-bar 12 by the cable 16 overcomes their inertia, move out of station A along a path 22 which soon comes beneath the cable 16 at a point 23, and then follows a main path 24 up the slope directly under the cable 16. As soon as the skiers 17 have left the loading station A, the next pair of skiers 25 in line 19 begin advancing into this same loading station A to prepare themselves for boarding the third T-bar 14.

When the second T-bar 13 reaches the attendant 21, he hands it to the waiting pair of skiers 18 at loading station B (FIG. 3). Here the skiers 18 position themselves on the T-bar 13, and then move with it along a path 26 to the point 23 where they join and then follow the main path 24 up the slope. Just as soon as the skiers 18 have vacated loading station B, the following pair of skiers 27 in line 20 moves forward into loading station B to prepare for boarding the fourth empty T-bar 15.

When the third empty T-bar 14 (FIG. 4) reaches the attendant 21, the procedure relating to the first T-bar 12 is repeated. That is, the attendant 21 hands the T- bar 14 to the pair of skiers 2S waiting at the loading station A, they board it and move off with it along path 22 to the point 23 and then along the main path 24. Similarly, when the skiers 25 have left station A, the next pair of skiers 28 at the head of the line 19 moves into loading station A and prepares for boarding the lift.

The fourth empty T-bar 15 is handed to the pair of skiers 27 at loading station B, the fifth to skiers 28 at loading station A, the sixth to skiers 29 at loading station B, and so forth, alternating back and forth between stations A and B. Even though the number of T-bars on the cable is doubled, each pair of skiers has the same amount of preparation time as provided by the current method of using only one loading station, since skiers at either of the loading stations get only every other T-bar. The number of skiers, on the other hand, transported up the hill during any given length of time is, theoretically, twice the former number.

Moving the T-bars out of line with the ascending cable 16 and into line with the loading stations is easily accomplished by the attendant 21, no matter how the T- bars are connected to the cable, since the loading stations are substantially abutting each other and the lateral di stance each T-bar must be moved is very small. If the T- bar is joined to the cable so that there is no provision for lateral movement, the cable itself has more than enough give than needed to twist it enough to align the T-bar with the loading station. Where the T-bar is flexibly joined to the cable, such as by a line and reel device, as illustrated in the drawings, the T-bar is simply pulled away from the reel to the proper position. In either case, the T-bar may be positioned for either loading station without modification of the structure.

Although the above description of my method uses pairs of skiers, this system of loading will work with single skiers as well. Therefore, if at times there is only one skier waiting at either of the two loading stations, that skier may take the T-bar and use it alone, without a partner; he does not have to wait for another skier to ride the lift with him. Also, if one loading station has no one waiting, the attendant can work the other station exclusively by handing over every other T-bar. The same loading interval is accordingly maintained.

Since there is normally an abundance of area around the loading station for the use of waiting skiers, there is no problem of positioning the two separate lines of skiers extending from the two loading stations.

Only one attendant is required to operate this method, just as required for the conventional one station method. Yet this attendant can handle twice as many skiers, and so reduce expenses to the lift owner. The only additional cost to the lift owner using this method is in increasing the number of T-bars on the cable. This cost is very small compared to the price of installing another complete lift. Consequently, a substantial improvement in service is provided for a relatively small additional financial outlay.

This method results in a 100 percent increase in the capacity of any given lift, but as with conventional one loading station lifts, it has been found that the volume of passengers comes closer to 60 to 70 percent of the lift capacity. This is for a number of reasons, one being that, as in the conventional loading method, not every T-bar is used, some people being very slow in preparing themselves to board the lift, especially beginners. Another reason is that sometimes the lines are not kept compact and too much time elapses between the departure of the first couple or skier, and the arrival of the next couple or skier, in the same line, atthe loading station. However, these problems are present in the same degree in the conventional one station method, and in all other types of ski lifts as well. This 60 to 70 percent figure, therefore, does not result from the method, but rather from the faults of the skiers themselves.

Although my method has been illustrated with a conventional T-bar ski lift, it is obvious that it can be used with other lifts, including a Poma-type lift, J -bar lift, and others which provide support to the passengers in the vicinity of his center of gravity, where the transporting device is mounted on the cable in a manner permitting the operator to hand it to skiers at either loading station. Therefore, there is nointention to limit the invention to a T-bar, but rather to include any ski lift operable in the same way.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

I claim:

1. A method of materially increasing the capacity of a ski lift equipped with relatively spaced transporting T-bar towing devices freely depending from a tow lift cable, without altering or reducing the orienting and loading preparation times allotted to waiting passengers, comprising: increasing the number of spaced freely depending transporting devices up to twice the maximum number which can be oriented and loaded .at a single loading station positioned beneath the ascending portion of the tow lift cable; establishing two separate multiple passenger loading stations laterally opposite a common point below the itOW lift cable, fixing a first station on one side and a separate second station on the other side of the tow lift cable; vand oppositely directing and alternately loading the transporting devices at these two separate multiple-passenger loading stations in such a way that an in dividu-al device is loaded at only one station and the loading of following consecutive devices is alternated between both stations, whereby to materially increase the loading capacity of said ski lift without reducing the time allotted to waiting skiers for orienting and loading separate ones of said devices at separate ones of said stations.

2. The method of loading a constantly moving overhead ascending ski lift cable from loading stations therebelow, comprising the step of locating a pair oi separate loading stations in laterally spaced relation to the line of travel of said cable and to each other, attaching a series of relatively spaced T-bar towing devices to said cable to depend freely therefrom, the spacing between said freely depending .towing devices and the linear speed of travel of said cable relative to said loading stations being predetermined by the time normally required for successive pairs of skiers to be oriented on one of said stations and loaded on a towing device freely depending from said cable, the step of engaging each said T-bar towing device as it approaches said pair of separate loading stations, and swinging alternate ones of said towing devices laterally of said cable for a distance suflicient to traverse alternate ones of said pair of loading stations, whereby to materially increase the loading capacity of said constantly moving ski-lift without reducing the time normally al lotted to waiting pairs of skiers for their orientation and loading on said ski lift at each of said stations.

3. In a method of loading and towing multiple passengers on skis by a ski-lift including an overhead cable movable at a substantially constant rate of speed and having a plurality of relatively spaced T-bar towing devices freely depending therefrom, said ski lift also including a passenger orienting and loading station associated therewith, the spacing between said freely depending towing devices and the linear speed of travel of said cable rel-ative to said loading station being predetermined by the time normally required for successive pairs of skiers to be oriented on said station and loaded on a T-bar towing device, the improved steps of locating and fixing said first mentioned passenger station wholly on one side of said overhead cable and providing an adjacent spacing area immediately below said cable, fn-nther locating and fixing a second and like passenger station wholly on the opposite side of said overhead cable and adjacent the opposite side of said spacing area, whereby successive pairs of passengers may be successively and alternately oriented and loaded on said laterally spaced stations out of the regular path of travel of said cable and its freely depending T-bar towing devices, attaching an additional freely depending like T-bar towing device to said cable substantially centrally between each pair of said first mentioned T-bar towing devices, and thereafter laterally swinging successive towing devices alternately to said first and second passenger loading stations as they approach said intermediate spacing area, whereby to materially increase the loading capacity of said ski lift without reducing the time normally allotted to waiting pairs of skiers for their orientation and loading on a T-bar towing device of said ski-lift at each of said stations.

4. The method of leading an overhead ascending ski lift cable while moving at a relatively constant rate of speed and having a linear series of relatively spaced T-bar towing devices connected to and freely depending therefrom, comprising the steps of providing two separate passenger orienting and loading stations therebelow which are laterally spaced from each other and disposed on opposite sides of said ascending ski lift cable providing intermediate non-loading area beneath said cable, and 0ppositely moving and directing alternate ones of said freely depending T-bar towing devices as they successively approach said intermed ate non-loading area to alternately traverse one or the other of said laterally spaced loading stations, whereby to materially increase the capacity of said ski lift cable without reducing the time allotted to waiting skiers for orienting and loading said sh lift.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,582,201 Huntington Jan. 8, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 179,041 Austria July 10, 1954 

1. A METHOD OF MATERIALLY INCREASING THE CAPACITY OF A SKI LIFT EQUIPPED WITH RELATIVELY SPACED TRANSPORTING T-BAR TOWING DEVICES FREELY DEPENDING FROM A TOW LIFT CABLE, WITHOUT ALTERING OR REDUCING THE ORIENTING AND LOADING PREPARATION TIMES ALLOTTED TO WAITING PASSENGERS, COMPRISING: INCREASING THE NUMBER OF SPACED FREELY DEPENDING TRANSPORTING DEVICES UP TO TWICE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER WHICH CAN BE ORIENTED AND LOADED AT A SINGLE LOADING STATION POSITIONED BENEATH THE ASCENDING PORTION OF THE TOW LIFT CABLE; ESTABLISHING TWO SEPARATE MULTIPLE PASSENGER LOADING STATIONS LATERALLY OPPOSITE A COMMON POINT BELOW THE TOW LIFT CABLE, FIXING A FIRST STATION ON ONE SIDE AND A SEPARATE SECOND STATION ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TOW LIFT CABLE; AND OPPOSITELY DIRECTING AND ALTERNATELY LOADING THE TRANSPORTING DEVICES AT THESE TWO SEPARATE MULTIPLE-PASSENGER LOADING STATIONS IN SUCH A WAY THAT AN INDIVIDUAL DEVICE IS LOADED AT ONLY ONE STATION AND THE LOADING OF FOLLOWING CONSECUTIVE DEVICES IS ALTERNATED BETWEEN BOTH STATIONS, WHEREBY TO MATERIALLY INCREASE THE LOADING CAPACITY OF SAID SKI LIFT WITHOUT REDUCING THE TIME ALLOTTED TO WAITING SKIERS FOR ORIENTING AND LOADING SEPARATE ONES OF SAID DEVICES AT SEPARATE ONES OF SAID STATIONS. 